relative pitch

noun

1

: the pitch of a musical tone as determined by its position in a scale

—distinguished from absolute pitch

2

: the ability to recognize or produce a musical tone at its correct pitch according to its relative position in a scale

she has good relative pitch

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!